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Lessons from the Last Passover

Following God’s instructions by faith

Luke 22:7-13 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.”They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?”He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he entersand tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.”And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Jesus asked the disciples to prepare the Passover meal. He did not tell them, where and how to do it. So they asked him and he gave them the instructions. If we were to get these instructions, it would still be vague for us to follow them but that’s how God works. He gives us the immediate plan and still leaves in enough room for us to exercise our faith in him. The disciple went ahead and did according to the instructions and they prepared the Passover meal just as Jesus wanted.

Enduring hardship with gladness

Luke 22:14-20 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

We read here that Jesus although he was the one who arranged for the Passover meal, he did not participate in the meal rather he led them into it. He desired to eat with his disciples but he waited till after his suffering on the cross. Why did he do that? This is what I think. When a man is sentenced to death, the modern justice system allows the man to have his last meal, one that he desires to enjoy before everything ends for him. In the case of our Lord, the death he was to endure was not the end but the beginning. The bible says that he endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. It wasn’t the meal that brought him happiness, it was our salvation that kept him going. He now wishes to dine with us as we celebrate his victory on the cross. Don’t we serve an awesome God?